Taking advantage of the visit to Indonesia of a delegation of 8 people from Latin America (from AMPB, APIB and COICA) to the 5th AMAN Congress in Tanjung Gusta, North Sumatra, the following days were invested in visiting two communities in Batak territory on the island of North Sumatra: the Matio community and the Supahitar community.
In the two meetings we learned a little more about the reality of the communities, in particular from an explanation of the history, and short visits within the community; the third day we talked to AMAN Tano Batak offices in Belige
Despite the inevitable frictions in a large group, with logistical issues sometimes complicated and moments of weariness due to the distances traveled, the delegation as a human group also consolidated a lot. We believe that it is important to consolidate a group of leaders that know each other better, share experiences together, and develop fairly strong level of fellowship.
We were able to test the hypothesis that exchanges are not purely brainstorming moments, but also encounters between humans, where music, for example, can create relationships of trust almost immediately (and Indonesians love to sing): the moment in Matío where the Latin American delegation sang a little Miskitu song after the official presentations, immediately provoking an enthusiastic rejoinder of the Batak with songs and dances was really a very special moment.
We could also see that in the Tano Batak territory of about 30 communities, AMAN‘s local staff is about three or four people, with the support of a local institute such as HARI (Hutan Rakyat Institute or Institute of Peoples and Forests).
Meeting with the Secretary General of AMAN
Upon the return of the delegation in Jakarta, the delegation held a meeting with the AMAN General Secretary in AMAN‘s offices in Jakarta, where the working relationships and solidarity were confirmed, and where we also met AMAN‘s team, many of whom we do not know because they do not speak English well and do not leave the country.